The Endless Convention of 2016 Continues *Open Thread*

Last night at the “Trump” Convention could as well have been titled “Mr. Cruz comes to Cleveland.” He came, he spoke and he did not endorse.

The Ted Cruz speech was the highlight of the week for his disappointed supporters. I thought that he should have just stayed away. I couldn’t see what possible good he could do at this 3 ring circus of lies, thuggery, sycophancy and all the trappings of a reality show extravaganza. Except not so much the extravaganza as promised. In fact much has just been a snoozer. (-_-)zzz But in all fairness, most Conventions are snoozefests.

I’m still on the fence wondering if his speaking was the right thing to do. If nothing else he proved to all of us that supported him that he is his own man. He proved that he doesn’t knuckle under and that he will not endorse a man unworthy to be president.

His speech is either being hailed as a great speech or the greatest betrayal since Marc Antony to Caesar. I didn’t watch, because I refuse to watch the Trump Convention, but I’ve read the text. As did the RNC. According to Katie Pavlich, who’s reporting I trust, the RNC ” approved and sent out Cruz’ prepared remarks more than an hour before the speech was delivered. Cruz didn’t change any of the text during delivery. ” Then after the speech was done and Cruz was booed loudly as he left the stage without endorsing Trump they began “calling Cruz’s speech “classless.”

Chris Christie, the Don’s hit man and valet, is calling the speech “selfish and awful”. Poor Christie, he still thinks people care what he says. He might best try to shore up his position in New Jersey in case Trump disappoints him again and doesn’t promise him a position in a Trump Administration that may never come to pass. In fact I would say there are pretty good odds a Trump Administration never comes to pass.

That voting “your conscience” is the line I liked best. Because amongst all the vote for this, vote for me, vote for him, vote for her I like something that tells me what I want a person of integrity should say i.e. “vote your conscience”. Most others said vote Trump because Hillary is unthinkable. They said it over and over and over. Boring.

Cruz also encouraged people to go to the polls and vote “up and down ticket”. Another way of saying not to punish good Republicans who are running just because Don the Con is at the top.

According to Erik Erickson “The Trump camp knew this morning Cruz would not endorse and told Cruz’s camp they’d orchestrate booing if he refused.”

Tomorrow the Trump Convention will once again belong to Don the Con – but at least last night, it belonged to Ted Cruz.

I do know one thing for sure – if Cruz had endorsed Trump I would have lost all respect for him.

Poor Mike Pence. He is the Vice-Presidential nominee and he is almost the forgotten man. Trump media is trying their best to make his speech appear triumphant.

According to RCP: “Trump selected Indiana Gov. Mike Pence as his running mate in part to promote unity among Republicans. Pence, formerly the fourth-ranking House GOP leader with credibility among conservatives, is well respected by a broad swath of party loyalists in Washington, D.C., and nationwide, who last week greeted his selection with praise.”

This morning I had to search to find anything about Pence. He definitely was upstaged. But from all accounts he gave a workman like speech. He was cheered as he “introduced” himself to many who still didn’t know who he was. And I thought this line: ““And my fellow Republicans, when Donald Trump becomes president of the United States of America, the change will be huge “, was clever. Too clever for me to think it originated with Pence. But I could be wrong. It’s just that Pence is so damn vanilla.

Governor Scott Walker and Senator Rubio also gave speeches that no one is talking about.

It’s all Cruz. The vitriol is spewing forth as well as the ecstasy from the Cruz supporters that are all in for 2020. What they think will change by then I don’t know. How they think the establishment and media can be beaten then I don’t know. But not ever falling in love with any candidate there is a lot I don’t know or understand.

What did you see or hear that I missed this morning? Or do you have a different perspective? In other words Rev Amy fans, whazup?

Ted still cannot say Donald Trump and endorse in the same sentence. I understand his principles. I understand what he means. He knew what was expected and imo should have declined to speak if he couldn’t bring himself to saying those words. I remember that debate where they forced DT to state that he would sign a pledge because all of them said that they would support the nominee. This is about our country not about one individual. We’ve all seen what one individual has done these last 8 years. I also note that today he is stating that he will not vote for Hillary.

I worry about this country more than anyone can imagine. I watch daily as our current administration of demons have deemed our older population expendable, I’m talking about what obamacare has done to medicine. It is something so egregious that only a little venom slips out each day for the citizens to take in. I work within that system. It is beyond horrifying. Something that I NEVER thought my country would do to those that fought for it. I am very angry that Barry got 8 years to work his wonders but he did. I am sad that few understand the depth and magnitude of what he has set in place.

Vote your conscience…absolutely. I know that everyone who comes here takes voting seriously. Sadly, not everyone does in our country does.

All of you know that Hillary will continue the death spiral into the black hole. With that in mind, I know that I cannot vote for anyone but DT. He’s the only one who has a chance at stopping teh won’s momentum. I don’t see a DT cabinet filled with idiots, and I could be wrong. I would love nothing more than to see a Jeff Sessions as a SOS. I cannot fathom the depths of what an HRC cabinet will do to this country’s future.

I tend to agree. I have listened to the speech since I posted this story and it was a very good speech as so many of his speeches were. Hearing him speak is much more effective than just reading the words.

I just don’t know what it accomplished other than to gratify his fans.

I didn’t’ wanted him “tainted” by the Trump freak and sycophancy show.

Now he’s just given all his enemies, and they are many, more opportunities to trash him.

I think many of us are right there with you on worrying abt the state of the nation and what is going to become of it REGARDLESS of who wins. The damage Obama has been able to do in just 8 short years would have been unimaginable to us just 8 yrs ago. No one would have been able to predict the extent of the damage he would do to the USA home and abroad.

As for Cruz, he is, after all, a Republican US Senator, and the man who came in second to Trump. He was speaking as a Republican, and to his base. His speech was fantastic, and that he was booed while referencing voting his conscience and what Republicans have touted as their ideals speaks VOLUMES.

And that is why I do not blame him one bit for not endorsing Trump despite his pledge. When he made that pledge, Trump had not attacked his wife personally nor claimed his father helped assassinate JFK. He has integrity and principles, and refuses to endorse a man who is despicable, loathsome, low, arrogant, bullying, misogynistic, bullying, and more. If he HAD endorsed Trump, he would be turning his back on all those who supported him for being a man of principle. Sometimes, promises have to be broken, and I, for one, would not endorse someone who made the heinous remarks abt my family that Trump did. One’s conscience must rule the day, not a politically driven arm twisting.

Not only did the RNC know Cruz would not endorse, TRUMP knew it. Paul Manafort reviewed and vetted Cruz’s speech. He APPROVED it.

And then Trump and his minions did what they do best – gin up animosity, which is what they did at the end. That was ALL manufactured in an attempt to ruin Cruz’s chances down the road.

Cruz showed once again that he is heads and shoulders above Trump in every respect. No wonder Trump hates him so much..

8 years of shredding what little that we had left and Hillary wants to continue on that same path. I am filled with despair daily, particularly when I go home every night. I have seen so much change to the detriment of every citizen that I wonder if Obozo is not Hitler’s long lost twin? I’m serious. I know that the RNC read the speech. I know that they approved it. I just believe that Ted should have bowed out politely because he knew very well what was expected. That’s all.

The knives were out on ABC and NBC late Wednesday night at the Republican National Convention (RNC) in reaction to Ted Cruz’s speech not endorsing Donald Trump as their reactions varied from Cruz having “badly miscalculated” to suggesting that Cruz would be blamed in November if Trump doesn’t win the general election.

I’m conflicted Helen. I listened to the speech on the Steve Deace podcast and hearing him speak is a lot different than just reading it. But I just don’t see what difference it makes.

Those of us that supported him know he’s a better man than Trump or any of his detractors but it doesn’t seem to make any difference.

He did one thing that I admire and respect as I admire and respect so much about him – he stayed true to himself and to his principles. Maybe the RNC, the establishment, Trump and the left hates him for that most of all.

You are definitely not alone. The problem is the voices that hate him for who and what he is are louder. And they hate him for what he is because they are not. He shows what a good man, even a politician can be if he cares about principles.

Unlike so many in the Cruz Cult I don’t’ think he walks on water. He’s a politician and this is one way to position himself as the Conservative in exile for 2020. But as I said, what good will that do? The forces against him will remain the same, the left, the media and the GOP establishment. Perhaps I’m cynical or maybe just pessimistic but I don’t see this culture, which I see as being in decline, as ever even seeing the things he talks about.

He’s a good man and he remained true to himself.

I just wish he had stayed away from the cesspool in Cleveland. JMO and the way I see it. There are a whole lot of people that I like and respect that don’t agree. We have to be true to ourselves too.

All too evident that it is here and now and at the Trump Convention. It is beyond disgusting. But it shows us once again just who and what the Trumpanzees are.

Oh and Scott Walker, I wouldn’t have not voted for you because you spoke at the Convention – but I will not ever vote for you again because you couldn’t keep you big mouth shut and attacked Ted Cruz for having more guts and character than you do. You are a major disappointment.

In A Party Full Of Cowards, Cruz Stood Apart

If 2016 is a disaster, Cruz will be the only major Republican to emerge from the Trump fiasco with his principles intact.

Marge,
I feel the same way about Walker as you. 3 votes from me but never again. Walker pandering was paving the his way to the nomination in 2020. Sorry Scotty – no more votes from me.

Since Trump and RNC knew ahead of time that Cruz wasn’t going to endorse and planned the dramatic reaction, I say suck it up buttercup ego-maniac you can dish it out but can’t take it. Poor, poor egoistical bombast.

As for Sarah Palin still trying to be a rainmaker and relevant, I say – Donald not only dumped on you but used you than discarded you.

What Cruz did will be judged on and on. We will know in the future if it really harmed him. I would have not gone to the convention. It was not only embarrassing for him and his family but dangerous. I am not a fan of Cruz and never was so I really cannot judge him because I really am not sure if he did it out of bravery or because he likes to call attention. I am glad, however, that it is all the media is talking about instead of the boring Pence and the “beautiful’ Trump children! Cannot wait until November to see this family out of the news for good, God willing!

This from the woman that didn’t have the guts to finish serving her term as Governor of Alaska. This from the woman who runs her mouth and nothing else.

She’s a wannabe that never quite was and from all I can see never will be. If she had served out her term it might have been different for her. But she thought she saw a way to use her sudden celebrity and that wouldn’t happen if she stayed on as Governor of Alaska.

So she moved on – for her own good not for the good of the citizens of Alaska. I have never believed anything else. But I kept quiet because there were/are a lot of people that believed her and in her. And it was just my opinion after all.

Time for her to stay home and be quiet – she’s just an embarrassment anymore.

I just to like and support Palin but that time is long gone. She is just a money maker who cares only about herself. Also, instead of using her fame time to improve as a politician and to learn how to speak, she became a clown every time she spoke. Her son has been arrested for hitting his wife and her daughter had two kids out of wedlock. This is funny because they are supposed to be so religious!!! She is a fake and her time has passed, good riddance!

“I remained skeptical that he would endorse — but when I heard that Cruz planned to speak at the convention, I worried. To me, any endorsement of Trump, even half-assed or tepid, would have been an act of disrespect to Ted Cruz’s family. Even if he didn’t endorse, I worried that Cruz would try to walk a line and end up being too clever by half.

It still could have played out that way. But then Donald Trump’s people orchestrated the booing of Ted Cruz, for not explicitly endorsing Trump.

It was a wholly premeditated spectacle. The bully Trump planned it this way. It was to be the final humiliation of “Lyin’ Ted.”

And yet, Ted Cruz stood firm.

And with that, a speech that could have been perceived as a standard-issue extolling of constitutionalism was transformed into an epic stand on principle.

I opened this post by noting that standing on principle is Cruz’s brand. His speech last night was calculating, I believe — but the calculation was: I am the sort of person who stands on principle. My supporters like that. I am going to continue to be that sort of person.

That’s my kind of “calculation.” Especially when it comes to defending family.

Anyone criticizing Cruz today has to be willing to say: “Donald Trump could mock my wife’s looks, and slander my dad, and I would support him.” If that’s the sort of person you are — the sort of person who does not respect his family enough to stand up for them, regardless of the cost — then stand up and say so. Be proud. Own it.”

either trump or clinton will win the election. Neither one is good for the country. God help this country.
we did not demand the best and we got the worst. Maybe we deserve this . Will lessons be learned? doubt it